Rain Man, Darlington Hippodrome Review (AD)

*Ad- I was invited along in exchange for a review.

I was invited along last night to watch Rain Man based on the Oscar-winning film which famously starred Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman and won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor.

Chris Fountain (Hollyoaks) and Adam Lilley* star in a brand new stage adaptation of the
classic film Rain Man at Darlington Hippodrome (Monday 18 to Sat 23 February).

Now I have never seen the Oscar-winning film myself so when I read the plot line below I was keen to go see this production.

When self-centered salesman Charlie(Chris Fountain) discovers that his long-lost brother Raymond(Adam Lilley), an autistic savant with a genius for numbers, has inherited the family fortune, he sets out to get ‘his half’. Charlie takes Raymond from the institution where he has spent most of his life and the two brothers embark on a trip across America where Charlie soon discovers that Raymond is worth more than he could have ever imagined.

This production will have you going through a whirlwind of emotions as the story unfolds, from laughing out loud to me personally wiping away tears at the end, this heartwarming production with a cast of only 8 that manage to keep you enthralled throughout.

Adam Lilley was remarkable with his portrayal of Raymond, a really moving performance that he never falters from at all which must be quite an exhausting role to play, he holds the spotlight from the moment he comes on to the stage.

The simple yet effective stage set cleverly transforms from scene to scene flawlessly giving us 80’s musical interludes which tie in well with the scenes too.

Chris Fountains plays his part brilliantly with the touching scenes between the brothers Charlie and Raymond, his realisation that he did, in fact, care for and love him more than the money he so desperately desired at the start.

My character, Charlie, is not a nice person at the start of the show. I don’t like him and hopefully the audience won’t either. His father dies and he thinks he’s going to be left a fortune. Then there’s a bombshell. He finds out he’s got a brother, Raymond, who’s getting all the money. At first all Charlie’s interested in is trying to get half of his money, but as the show progresses, the two go on a journey and start to bond. By the end of the show you see Charlie in a different light. He really connects with Raymond in a way you don’t think is possible at the start. – Chris Fountain

Rain Man is at Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday, February 23, 2019

https://www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk/whats-on/rain-man/

* Unfortunately, due to illness, Paul Nicholls is unable to perform in Rain Man at Darlington Hippodrome from 18-23 February. The role of Raymond Babbitt will be played by Adam Lilley.